The Ontological Guardianship of Ahl al-Bayt (AS) and Its Scope

Ontological guardianship is considered one of the most important exclusive rights granted to Ahl al-Bayt (AS). Some contemporaries deny the idea that creatures can manage ontological affairs and assume that it entails exaggeration and exiting from the circle of monotheism. Conversely, a considerable group of scholars accept it and argue that it does not entail polytheism and exaggeration. Moreover, some consider this kind of guardianship to be minimal and some hold that it is maximal and say it means management of the whole world. Using a descriptive-analytical method and library-based data, this paper reviews and comments on the arguments of each of the three statements above-mentioned. The paper holds that the station of ontological guardianship, that is, Imam’s control, in its broad sense, over universe, is a reality that can be explained and accepted in line with the unity of Divine Acts and has been proved in various traditional ways. However, apart from the station of affirmation and possibility, the idea that Ahl al-Bayt have maximal influence in the sense that they are in charge of creation and the sustenance of the universe is not confirmed.